About the position
ENVIRONMENT:
A modern retail brand that resonates with today’s customers is seeking a National Supply Chain Manager who is responsible for designing and leading the Group’s national supply chain strategy and operations, ensuring efficient warehousing, logistics, and distribution across all channels. Reporting directly to the CEO, this role drives operational excellence, cost optimization, and service reliability to support revenue growth across retail, commercial, and digital platforms while transforming supply chain capabilities to meet future business needs.
Value to the Business:
- Reduces operational costs through warehouse efficiency improvements and optimized logistics partnerships
- Improves stock availability and fulfilment reliability across retail and B2B channels, directly supporting revenue growth.
- Enables scalable growth across retail, commercial, and digital channels through efficient distribution and inventory management.
- Enhances customer satisfaction by ensuring timely delivery and product availability across all locations.
- Builds organizational capability through supply chain transformation and modernization initiatives.
- Mitigates supply chain risks through robust 3PL partner management and contingency planning.
- Drives competitive advantage through superior logistics efficiency in South Africa's office supplies market.
DUTIES:
Warehouse Operations Management
- Oversee operations across 8 distribution centres (Johannesburg, Durban, Cape Town, Nelspruit,
- Polokwane, Kimberley, Vredenburg, Gqeberha)
- Optimize warehouse layouts, processes, and staffing to improve efficiency and reduce costs
- Implement warehouse management systems (WMS) and operational best practices
Logistics & Distribution Network Optimization
- Manage and optimize logistics partnerships with 3PL providers to enhance service delivery
- Oversee all online order fulfilment and dispatch processes to ensure efficient and timely delivery
- Design and implement cost-effective distribution strategies for retail, B2B, and online channels
- Ensure timely fulfilment to 48 retail branches, commercial customers, and online orders nationwide
Strategic Planning & Cost Optimization
- Develop and execute supply chain strategy aligned with the company’s growth objectives
- Identify and implement cost reduction initiatives across warehousing and logistics
- Conduct supply chain analytics to drive data-informed decision-making
Team Leadership & Development
- Lead and develop a team of 3 direct reports managing multi-site operations
- Build high-performing operational teams across distribution centres
- Drive accountability and operational discipline throughout the supply chain function
Supply Chain Transformation & Continuous Improvement
- Lead continuous improvement and supply chain transformation initiatives to modernize warehouse
- operations, logistics models, and distribution efficiency
- Identify and implement structural changes to reduce costs and improve service delivery
- Drive adoption of supply chain technology and best practices across the organization
Stakeholder Collaboration & Performance Management
- Partner with Procurement, Sales, Retail Operations, and IT to ensure integrated supply chain
- execution
- Report supply chain performance metrics to CEO and executive leadership
- Collaborate with suppliers and partners to optimize inventory and fulfilment
REQUIREMENTS:
Qualifications & Experience
Education
- A relevant tertiary qualification in Supply Chain Management, Logistics, Industrial Engineering,
- Operations Management, Business Administration, or a related field is typically expected for this role.
- Postgraduate qualifications in Supply Chain Management, Operations Management, or Business Administration may be advantageous but are not essential.
- Professional certifications in supply chain management (such as APICS, CSCP, CPIM, or similar industry credentials) may also be beneficial where relevant.
Experience
- The role typically requires extensive experience in supply chain and logistics management, including leadership responsibility for warehousing, distribution, or logistics operations within a multi-site environment.
- Experience managing national or regional supply chain operations, including distribution centres, logistics partners, and inventory flows across multiple locations, is important.
- Exposure to retail, wholesale, or B2B distribution environments is particularly relevant given the company’s operational model.
Operational Exposure
- Managing warehouse and distribution centre operations
- Working with third-party logistics providers (3PLs) and transportation partners
- Implementing or improving warehouse management systems (WMS) or ERP supply chain modules
- Driving operational efficiency, process improvement, and cost optimisation within supply chain functions
- Supporting multi-channel distribution environments (retail, commercial, and online)
Skills & Capabilities
Technical Skills
- Supply chain planning
- Inventory management
- Warehouse operations management
- Logistics and transportation management
- Warehouse Management Systems (WMS)
- ERP systems (inventory and procurement modules)
- Process improvement mindset
- Distribution network optimisation
- Supply chain analytics
- Operational cost optimisation
Leadership Skills
- Operational leadership
- Leading multi-site operational teams
- Performance management
- Change management
- Cross-department coordination
- Developing high-performing operational teams
- Driving accountability and operational discipline
Domain Skills
- Retail supply chain operations
- Multi-site distribution management
- Omnichannel fulfilment
- National logistics network management
- Inventory optimisation for retail and B2B channels
- Supplier and procurement integration
- Warehouse systems optimisation
- Distribution centre performance management
ATTRIBUTES:
- Strategic problem solving
- Analytical thinking
- Communication and stakeholder management
- Cross-functional collaboration
- Decision-making under operational pressure
- Negotiation and influencing
- Customer orientation
Desired Skills:
- Analytical
- Clinical Decision-Making
- Solving Problems
About The Employer:
A modern retail brand that resonates with today’s customers.
